Location
The Battle of Isurava was fought at Isurava along the Kokoda Trail in the Owen Stanley Range in Oro Province in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Wartime History
In June 1942, a New Guinea Force (NGF) reconnaissance report by Lt. W. A. Palmer and W. E. Young identified Isurava as a possible defensive position. After the Japanese Army landing on July 21, 1942 on the north coast they began advancing inland to Kokoda, then used the Kokoda Trail and advanced two battalions and two engineer units southward towards Isurava.

Between August 13-19, 1942 the Australian Army 39th Battalion militia assembled at Isurava to establish defensive positions to block an enemy advance over Kokoda Trail. On August 16, 1942 39th Battalion commanding officer (C. O.) Lt. Col. Ralph Honner reached Isurava to lead the defense. Meanwhile, Japanese patrols began to probe the area, indicating an impeding assault. By late August, the militia were exhausted by fighting, deprived of sleep, poor food and heavy rains.

On August 27, 1942 Japanese had cut off an Australian patrol 500m north of the village and efforts by C Company, 2/14th Battalion failed to relieve them. At 4pm, the Japanese made a frontal attack up the Kokoda Trail encountering E Company defenses. Meanwhile a small Japanese force attempted to outflank the defensive position. During the night, there were heavy rains as the Japanese attack resumed August 28, 1942 at dawn until 8am, while Japanese forces attempted to outflank the C Company positions and kept attacking all afternoon until the evening. In total approximately 350 Japanese casualties were inflicted.

On August 29, 1942 at dawn Japanese resumed with heavy attacks but the Australian defenders managed to repelled two assaults before their line was broken and they were forced to commit their reserves. In an attempt to repel the enemy, Private Bruce Kingsbury rushed forward with a Bren gun and fired from his hip to clear a path through the enemy before being shot by a sniper in the trees and killed. He posthumously earned the Victoria Cross (VC). The location where he was killed became known as "Kingsbury Rock".

By the end of the day, the Japanese had suffered an estimated 500 casualties and the Australians 17 KIA and 48 wounded. In total, 75 Australians died during the Battle of Isurava and the Isurava Rest House. During the night, the Australians began withdrawing with their wounded under fire. On August 30, 1942 Brigadier Potts ordered the remaining Australians to withdraw southward to Alolo (Alola).

References
Kokoda Track - Station 14 Isurava
Field Guide to the Kokoda Track pages 312-313 (maps) 319-322, 327-357, 360-361, 362-363 (maps)
WW2 Nominal Roll - Bruce Steel Kingsbury

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Last Updated
August 26, 2021